However even as he lay dying on the banks of [[Taeglin]] the Deceiver completed the doom he had woven for the children of Húrin. Túrin was rendered unconscious by Glaurung's noxious blood and Níniel, coming upon the scene, thought him dead. With his last breath the dragon revealed his plot, and as he died his spells were undone, so Niënor Níniel regained her memory. In despair she leapt to her death into Cabed-en-Aras and when, awaking, Túrin also learned the truth from Brandir he cast himself upon his own sword.<ref name="CHDeathGlaurung" /><ref name="CHDeathTurin">{{CH|18}}.</ref>

However even as he lay dying on the banks of [[Taeglin]] the Deceiver completed the doom he had woven for the children of Húrin. Túrin was rendered unconscious by Glaurung's noxious blood and Níniel, coming upon the scene, thought him dead. With his last breath the dragon revealed his plot, and as he died his spells were undone, so Niënor Níniel regained her memory. In despair she leapt to her death into Cabed-en-Aras and when, awaking, Túrin also learned the truth from Brandir he cast himself upon his own sword.<ref name="CHDeathGlaurung" /><ref name="CHDeathTurin">{{CH|18}}.</ref>

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==Brood==

==Other Versions of the Legendarium==

==Other Versions of the Legendarium==

Revision as of 16:16, 29 August 2010

"...It is a long tale..." — Aragorn
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Names, epithets & titles

As the first and greatest of the dragons of Morgoth, Glaurung was sometimes referred to as the Great Worm,[3][4] the Worm of Morgoth,[5] the Great Worm of Angband[1] and the Gold-worm of Angband.[6] He bore the epithets the Golden,[7] and the Deceiver[source?] (the latter presumably referring to his dealings with the children of Húrin). He was also described as the Father of Dragons[7] and the first of the Urulóki,[8] though whether this implies he actually sired the rest of his kind is uncertain.

History

Exactly when Glaurung was created is not known, but he first emerged from Angband in F.A.260,[9] during the Siege of Angband. Although he was still young according to the long life of Dragons, and not grown to his full strength, his initial assault pushed the Noldor from Ardgalen, which he took and defiled, to Dorthonion and the Ered Wethrin. This victory was short-lived, however, and Glaurung was forced back to Angband when Fingon rode against him with a company of mounted archers. Morgoth was not pleased that Glaurung had revealed himself while still immature, and did not allow any more forays from Angband for some two hundred years.[8][9]

The Dagor Bragollach and Nirnaeth Arnoediad

The siege of Angband was broken in F.A.455[10] in the Dagor Bragollach, the Battle of Sudden Flame. Glaurung, now grown to his full might, led the largest army of balrogs and orcs yet assembled against the leaguer of the Noldor and overthrew it. He then pressed against the people of Fëanor and, defeating a contingent of their riders upon the plain of Lothlann and forcing Maglor's Gap, burned all the land between the arms of Gelion.[7]

But the Dwarves of Belegost with their great war masks withstood him. Surrounded and hewed at by their axes, Glaurung was driven into a rage and slew Azaghâl the Lord of Belegost. But with his last stroke the Dwarf-lord dealt Glaurung a grievous wound to the belly and the dragon and his brood fled back to Angband, leaving the final victory over the Union to Gothmog and his balrogs.[3]

As Glaurung's orcs were sacking the city Túrin arrived and cut his way to the captives. As he did so Glaurung emerged from the doors and put him under his spell. Túrin was transfixed by the gaze of dragon as the captives, among them Finduilas, were led away. Then Glaurung spoke to Túrin and convinced him not to go after Finduilas but to return to Dor-lómin and rescue his mother Morwen and sister Niënor (when in fact they had already fled to Doriath). After weaving the first strand of his plot to bring doom to the children of Húrin, who Morgoth had cursed, he drove away his orcs and made his abode in Nargothrond, casting down the bridge and, in true dragon fashion, laying down to sleep on the great horde he had plundered.[12]

The following year, F.A.496,[13] Glaurung's slumber was disturbed. Hearing of the fall of Nargothrond a small party from Doriath, including Morwen and Niënor, was sent to seek tidings, especially of the fate of Túrin. His keen sight quickly detected them and, as they approached his dwelling, he issued forth into the Narog and created a steam and reek that scattered the spies in confusion. Glaurung then crept swiftly towards Amon Ethir where he meant Niënor, alone, and placed her under the same spell he had her brother Túrin. But this time rather than subtle deceits he used his power to completely obliterate Niënor's memory and left her to wander in the wild.[14]

Death

For the next several years Glaurung ruled as the 'dragon-king' of what was once the Realm of Nargothrond, gathering many Orcs to him.[4] Meanwhile Niënor escaped from Mablung's care and wandered into Brethil. There she was found by Túrin, now living amongst the Halethrim, who named her Níniel. Not knowing that they were brother and sister (Túrin having never met his sister and Níniel ignorant of her true identity), the two fell in love and were married.[14][15] In F.A.498 Glaurang began to send his orcs against Brethil, and thereby forced Túrin to reveal himself.[16] The next summer[17] he came there himself, but was caught by an ambush before he could reach the Halethrim's dwellings at Ephel Brandir: Túrin lay in wait in the gorge of Cabed-en-Aras, and as Glaurung attempted to leap over it he was dealt a mortal blow by Gurthang, Túrin's black sword.[5]

However even as he lay dying on the banks of Taeglin the Deceiver completed the doom he had woven for the children of Húrin. Túrin was rendered unconscious by Glaurung's noxious blood and Níniel, coming upon the scene, thought him dead. With his last breath the dragon revealed his plot, and as he died his spells were undone, so Niënor Níniel regained her memory. In despair she leapt to her death into Cabed-en-Aras and when, awaking, Túrin also learned the truth from Brandir he cast himself upon his own sword.[5][18]